Men’s Basketball Bounces Back in UAA Play with 74-60 Win over Chicago

Feb. 1 – (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – Five Tartans scored in double-figures as Carnegie Mellon University defeated the visiting University of Chicago 74-60 in men’s basketball action. The Tartans pulled away in the second half thanks to stifling defense to improve their record to 12-5 overall and 2-4 in the University Athletic Association (UAA). With the loss, the Maroons fall to 11-6 overall and 4-2 in the UAA.

Both teams started out hot hitting over 60% of their shots in the first ten minutes. A lay-up by Tartan junior forward Ryan Einwag (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) gave the Tartans a 22-21 lead at the 10:41 mark. The score stayed close and Chicago took a 35-34 lead with 2:01 to play in the first, courtesy of a lay-up from junior guard Matt Corning. Corning led the Maroons with 15 first half points. The Tartans buckled down and scored the last five points of the half, on a three-pointer from senior center Greg Gonzalez (Southlake, Texas/Carroll) and a lay-up by sophomore guard Jack Anderson (Beaver Falls, Pa.), to lead 39-35 heading into the break.

With Carnegie Mellon leading by six early in the second half, Gonzalez drilled a three pointer off a pass from Einwag and senior guard Geoff Kozak (Huntingdon, Pa.) stole the ball in the backcourt and laid it in to give the Tartans their first double-digit lead of the game at the 15:58 mark. Chicago never got into a rhythm in the second half shooting 7-of-27 and missing all ten of their three point attempts. A 9-0 Tartan run midway through the second half gave Carnegie Mellon their biggest lead of the game at 18. Anderson’s trey capped off the run with 9:39 remaining. Despite Corning’s best efforts – he finished with a game-high 26 points; the Tartans maintained their lead and slowed the tempo down the stretch. The Tartans maintained possession for over 90 seconds starting at the 3:20 mark, thanks to a pair of offensive rebounds. Chicago eventually got the ball back and made a lay-up but Gonzalez answered with a pair of free throws to give the Tartans the 14 point victory.

Gonzalez’s 16 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks led the way for the Tartans. Einwag added 13 points and a team-high four assists. Kozak and junior guard Corey O’Rourke (Merion, Pa./St. Joe Prep) each tallied 11 points, with Kozak leading the team with three steals. Anderson’s strong play in the second half led him to 10 points for the game. The Tartans shot 47.5% as a team from the field compared to 36.8% by Chicago.

The Tartan men’s team will be in action again on Sunday when they host the Washington (Mo.) University Bears in Skibo Gymnasium. The game is scheduled to start at noon.